Steam iron



May 6, 1958 E. G. FRANKLIN ET AL 2,833,061

' v STEAM IRON Filed March-12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a/:fan w ago/met BY Arran/v5? May l6, 1958 E. G. FRANKLIN ETAL 2,833,061

STEAM IRON Filed March 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ga/afan cw ago/met? 5y y )pl/Lunar.) 47m/Mfr z,s3s,o61

STEAM IRoNl Edmond G. Franklin and Stanton W. Holm'berg,`Minne apolis, Minn., assignors tts-General Mills, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Y Application March-1`2,-1.954, Serial No. 415,812

l .Claimsf (Cl. 38-77) This invention` relates to steam irons and pertains more United States Patent shown,- the tubular member 36 is semi-circular when 'viewed in cross section and includes laterally extending particularly to an iron capable of performing either steam or dry ironing operations. Y

In steam irons equipped with boilers of limited volume the liquid entering the boiler is permitted to seek the level of that contained in the reservoir merely by providing an unmetered valve arrangement. Stated otherwise, the valve is either on or off and the quantity of steam fed to the ironing face of the soleplateis governed by the amount of heat supplied to the boiler from the soleplate. In such ysituations the boiler is preferably located near the front end of the'ironV so` as to take advantage of the concentrated heat zone due'to the conventional convergence of the embedded heating element in this forward region. Through inadvertence, and in actually performing some pressing operations, the toe or forward end of the iron may be tilted downwardly, which in the,

above` alluded-to'type of steam iron carries with it the attendant disadvantage of' having the liquid level in the boiler riseto such a height that water is carried with the Y steam fromV the boiler to the pressing face of the iron.

Accordingly, itis one important object of the invention to obviate the likelihood of the waterlevel in the boiler rising to such an extent that water will hev carried'with the steam onto the fabric being ironed.

Another object of the invention is to provide conduit means--forcarrying out'the foregoing object and also permitting'the resting of the iron on either of its sides with an automaticV shuttingl off of the liquid flowing toV the boiler.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists' in the features of Yconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts l*which will Vbe `exemplified in the construction hereafter -set forth and the scope of the application of which'will be indicated inthe appended claims.

4In the drawings, Figure 1- is an elevational View in section taken in the direction of line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is ya'horizontal sectional View taken in the divreetionA of'line'Z--Z of Fig; l, and` Fig/"3v is ap'er'spective View of the iron, partly in sectiomtoishow the internal' arrangement of the conduit meanspermitting'the tilting of the iron.

Referring to theI drawingsin detail, the iron selected 'forthe' purpose of illustrating thev invention includes a solplate 10 having embedded therein a conventional U- shaped heating qelement ,12. The heating element 12 is 'energized by way` of an electrical cord adapted to be connected toa source-of power and containing a pair of conductor elements 16 and 18. The element 16 is W'conneete'd directly tooneend off the heating Velement 12 and the other element 18,completes the 'circuit through fthe heating element but includestherein a thermostatic switch 2G. The thermostatic switchy 20 is adjustable byy "reason of an Vupstanding shaft 22 provided at its upper "extremity'with a manipulating'knob 24. Thus, once the rthermo'static"switch 20 Vha's'b'eenl adjusted for a particular d ice "iiatemtlA May s, 195,8

temperature this switch will control the energization of the heating element 12 and consequently the amount of heat supplied to the soleplate.

Surmounting the soleplate V10 is a reservoir 26 retained in xed relationship with the soleplate by virtue of such mounting means as studs 2S and nuts 30. Reservoir 26 includes a .substantially flat bottom 32 and in the illustrated embodiment there is an outlet provided at 34. Liquid contained within-the reservoir is fed to the outlet va a rearwardly extending tubular member 36. As

fianges 33 which may be soldered o r brazed to the bottom 32. In this way an intake to the presently to be described steam generating chamber is formedl at near the rear end lof the reservoir.

In order to generate steam which is to be supplied to the pressing face of the soleplate, the iron includes an yupstanding steam generating chamber in the form of a 20l cylindrical boiler 4Z having its lower end abutting an annular gasket 44. Within the boiler 42 is centrally disposed a steam delivery tube 46, the tube 46 having comlrnunication with the interior of the boiler by reason of an aperture 48. The lower end of the tube is threaded at 49 and is threadedly received in an aperture 50 extending through the soleplate 16. Preferably a series of grooves 51 connecting with the lower end of the aperture are desired for better steam distribution during an ironing operation. Carried at the upper end of the steam delivery tube 46 is a stud member 52, which stud member extends through the dome-shaped top of the boiler 42, there being an aperture 54 through which the stud passes. VA gasket 56 and a nut 58 threadedly engaged l with the upper end of the stud 52 .assure a vapor-tight yseal at theA upper end of the boiler.

in order to provide communicationibetween the Voutlet 34 and the lower portion of the boiler a radially and thenupwardly directed tubular passage 60 is provided. Also circumscribing the outlet 34 isa bushingV 62 which contains therein a Valve member 64. The valve member 64 is designed to seat against the bottom 32 of the reservoir so as to either permit or prevent flow of liquid to Vthe'boiler by way of the passage means 60. For the purpose of actuating the Valve member 64, such member is equipped with a vertically extending stem 66 having Y encircled ther'eabout a compression spring 68. The compression'spring 63V is instrumental in normally holding theL valve in a closed position. T hreadedly engaged with Y theupper end of the bushing 62 is a threaded member closed, is vspaced radially outward from the top of .the

member v76. However, to open the valvethe knob 7S may be rotated to an extent suiiicient to bring the projection in a superimposed relation with a radially extending ear 82 which is 4integral with the member 7i). Thus the projection Si) will be maintained at a raised elevation and the valve member 64 will accordingly be moved into an .open position with respect to the outlet 34.

To limit the filling of the reservoir 26 to only a certain extent it is contemplated that the top thereof be recessed yin the region indicated by the numeral 84. The recessed portion 84 is apertured at its lower endr as indicated ,by theV numeral 86 and this aperture is threaded for the recepmeral 94, the iron is ready for use.

. Y 3 tion of a water-tight till plug 88. To assure a water-tight seal, a gasket 90 is disposed beneath the enlarged upper end of the till plug, and to permit facile removal of the plug,` the plug may be provided with a'liinger-engaging portion 92. By virtue of the recessed dispositiony of the filler plug, it will be observedthat in fllingor replenishing the reservoir with Vliquidthe level of the rliquid will only rise to the elevation designated by the numeral 94. f,

The reason for such a limited filling ofthe reservoir will `be mademanifest in the operational description of the iron.

Also included as part of the iron is a handle 96, th

handle being secure'd to theV reservoir by means of fastening elements such as screws v97. Further, the iron includes a pair of projections 98 one attached to each side of the iron. These projections 98'function as f eet for supporting the iron in a ,siderest position. As will be discerned from Fig. 3, the feet 98are disposed so that the forward end or toe of the iron will be maintained at a higher elevation than the rear of the iron when the iron is placed on either of its sides.

While the operation of the iron is thought to be apparent from the foregoing description, nonetheless, a brief operational sequence will be given at this time. The iron is filled by removing the fill plug -88 and holding the iron in a substantially horizontal position. When the iron has been filled to its upper limit as indicated by the nu- Vsteam ironing operation is to be performed, the thermostat 20 is adjusted for' the proper operatingtemperature by means of the knob 24 and the valve 64 is moved into open position by manipulationof the knob 78.

Opening of the valve permits water to flow gravitationally tothe lower end of the boiler 42 via the inlet 40, the tube 36, the outlet 34, and the tubular passage 60. The water entering the boiler 42 will immediately rise to the same height asY the water contained in the reservoir Assuming that a since it is contemplated that ,the valve arrangement be ofA is directed through the opening 48 to the steam deliveryl tube 46. Having entered the tube 46, the steam then proceeds downwardly through the aperture 50 to the. ironing face ofthe soleplate.

Now, if the toe of the iron is tilted downwardly it will 4 arrangement does not permit the inadvertent escape of water therethrough.

Not only is it within the purview of the invention to prevent the level of the water within the boiler 42 from rising unduly, but the invention also contemplates a tubular arrangement that will permit the iron to be side-rested on either of its sides with a concomitant shut-olf of water being fed to the boiler 42. In this connection it is to be observed that the outlet 34 is positioned in fairly close proximity to the front end of the iron and that this outlet is raisedabove the level of the water when the iron is in the position pictured in Fig. 3. Consequently the means providing communication from the interior of the reservoir to the interior of the boiler extends forwardly as evidenced by the tubular portion 36 and then rearwardly as evidenced by the tubular portion bearing the numeral 60. In order to permit the iron to be rested on either -of its sides, the outlet 34 is located `substantially on the longitudinal center-line of the reservoir and will be above the water level whether the iron is in its side-rested position shown in Fig. 3 or is positioned on its opposite side.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.V

Itis also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

We claim: p l

1.V In a steam iron, a soleplate, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate, a steam generating chamber associated with the soleplate, and passage means adjacent the bottom of the reservoir between said reservoir and said steam generating chamber extending forwardly from a locus near the rear ofthe reservoir to a locus near the front of said Yreservoir and then rearwardly to said chamber for gravitationally feeding liquid from said reservoir to said steam generating chamber. Y

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including means for supporting the iron in a side rest position and downwardly recessed means in the top of the reservoir for limiting the filling of the reservoir so that said forward locus will be labove the level of the reservoirs contents when the iron is in its side rest position. j

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 including a tubular vent issuing upwardly from 4the top side of said reserbe observed that'the water level in the boiler begins to go up as the water tries -to reach the level of that in the' that the tube 36 'is incorporated into the iron, for the entrance 40 of thetube is disposed suiciently rearwardly so as `to bring this entrance out of the water 'contained in the reservoir before an objectionable amountof water has entered the boiler 42. In this way, the user of the iron will not experience staining or discolorization from water contact which would `otherwise occur in connection` with certain fabrics.

Also it will be noted that the height of the vent opening 76 is at such an elevation that when the iron is tilted voir near the forward Vend thereof for venting the interior vof the reservoir to atmosphere and said means for limiting the filling of the reservoir is disposed substantially on the transverse centerline of the iron andincludes a liquid tight fill plug.

4. In a steam iron, a soleplate, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate provided with an aperture in its bottom side near the frontend of the iron, a steam generating chamber associated with the soleplate and disposed toward the front end of the Viron but rearwardly of said aperture, a tube having communication with said aperture extending rearwardly along the upper surface of said bottom side to provide an inlet near the rear end of said reservoir, and conduit means beneath said reservoir establishing communication between said aperture and said steam generating chamber to feed liquid gravitationally from the reservoir via said tube, aperture and conduit means only Vwhen said inlet is beneath the liquid contained in said reservoir.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 including l vllve for opening and closing said aperture.

with its toe downward, the water in the reservoir will not g.

ow out through the opening 76. Thus it will be seen 6. In a steam iron, a soleplate, an electrical heating element in heat transfer relation with the soleplate, a reser- Voir surrriounting the soleplate, a steam generating chamber disposed intermediate the ends of said soleplate, passage means connecting said reservoir withsaid steam generating chamber, said passage means extending lirst forwardly from a locus near the rear of said reservoir t0 a locus substantially on the longitudinal center line of the iron near the front thereof and then rearwardly to said steam generating chamber at an elevation adjacent the bottom of said reservoir, a side rest projection at each side of the iron located so as to maintain the forward end of the iron at an elevation above the rear end of the iron when said iron is resting on either side, andy means limiting the complete filling of the reservoir so that said forward locus is above the level of the reservoirs contents when the iron is in either side restfposition.

7. ln a steam iron, a soleplate including steam discharge means leading to its pressing face, electrical heating means embedded in the soleplate having a U-shaped configuration, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate, a boiler including an upstanding hollow shell on said soleplate and forming a steam generating chamber with the soleplate of limited volume, said boiler being nearer the forward end of the iron than the rear, means for gravitationally conducting liquid from the rservoir to the boiler including a tube extending from a point near the rear end of the reservoir along the bottom thereof to said boiler, and a steam delivery tube connecting the boiler with said discharge means.

8. ln a steam iron, a soleplate including steam discharge means leading to its pressing face, electrical heating means embedded in the soleplate having a U-shaped configuration, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate, a boiler including an upstanding cylindrical shell on said soleplate and forming a steam generating chamber with the soleplate of limited volume, said boiler being disposed adjacent the bight of said U-shaped heating means, means for conducting liquid from the reservoir to the boiler including a conduit portion extending from a point near the rear end of the reservoir around one side of the boiler to a point in front of the boiler and a conduit portion extending from said last named point rearwardly to said boiler, and a steam delivery tube within said cylindrical shell connecting the boiler with said discharge` means.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 including a valve between said conduit portions.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9 in which said last named point is located substantially on the longitudinal center line of the iron and the structure further includes a side rest projection at each side of the iron located so as to maintain said last named point above the rear end of the iron when said iron is resting on either side, 'and means limiting the filling of the reservoir so that said last named point is above the level of the reservoirs contents when the iron is in either side rest position. f

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,124 Bremer Aug. 31, 1943 2,384,839 Kistner Sept. 1S, 1945 2,441,916 Busch et a1. May 1s, 1948 2,499,915 Graham et al. Mar. 7, 1950 2,506,950 Butman May 9, 1950 2,587,665 vSwenson Mar. 4, 1952 2,588,698 Butcher Mar. 1l, 1952 2,700,236 Marvin et al. Jan. 25, 1955 l 

